Lion Nathan is looking into options to boost capacity and make products other than beer at its Chinese breweries. After talks with potential brewing partners in China came to an end, Lion Nathan is assessing what to do with its operations which are running at only 30% of capacity. Lion Nathan’s operations in China represent an investment of US$121.9m and include an 80% stake in the Wuxi brewery and a wholly owned brewery in Suzhou, both located in the Yangtse River delta area. It also has an agreement with Germany’s Brauerei Beck to produce and sell Beck’s in China. It was in 1995 that Lion Nathan entered China. Lion Nathan’s Investor Relations Director, Warwick Bryan, was quoted as saying that China represented less than 10% of Lion Nathan’s total beer out put.1m hl in 2000, up 6.5%)..

De gustibus non disputandum, or as the Roman would have said: "let’s not argue over matters of taste." The same could be said about Foster’s new logo which was revealed in July along with a name change. Adieu to Foster’s Brewing Group and welcome to Foster’s Group. The logo depicts three coloured glasses (to represent the group’s interests in beer, wine and drinks) and incorporates the words "Inspiring Global Enjoyment". The logo was designed by Sydney firm Lewis Kahn Staniford Landor. Foster’s Chief Executive Ted Kunkel was quoted as saying that the logo and its tagline aimed to get to the core of what Foster’s was really about..

Before the end of the year, the first new concept Belgian Beer Café will open in Sydney, providing beer drinkers "down under" with another opportunity to enjoy a Belgian Wit beer in a retro art deco ambience. There is already a Belgian Beer Café in Sydney. The new concept, according the Interbrew, will play on the theme of a typical 1900 brasserie, featuring large mirrors, brass ornaments, wooden tables and marble floors. The new Belgian Beer Cafe is to suggest a urban atmosphere. The first concept, which was launched by Interbrew and Créneau International Design in 1998, was built around the theme of a village café. Already 29 of these themed cafés have been opened around the world, all the way from Belgium to New Zealand.

For more than a year the Montana saga has had the world shake its head in wonder. Down under, Australasian brewer Lion Nathan and the world’s number two drinks group Allied Domecq have been engaged in
a take-over battle of New
Zealand’s largest wine producer, Montana group, valued at NZ$800m (US$348m). The battle so far has all the ingredients of a script Hollywood producers could be scrambling for.
Recent events have provided new twists to the tale however. After a complaint filed with the NZ Stock Exchange by Allied Domecq which alleged that Lion breached listing rules by securing binding agreements with institutions to buy shares before restrictions on its trading expired, the NZSE committee ruled that Lion must divest a 19% stake in Montana before making a new bid..

If you thinking what you are seeing on the label, well, ... you may be right. At Carlton United Breweries (CUB), a division of the Foster’s Group, word is out that its latest product innovation, launched in July, "improves stamina and endurance". The activity in question shall remain unmentioned. But no doubt, male consumers will have an inkling or two. Carlton G is a beer (4.6% alc./vol.) brewed with Guarana, a natural berry extract from the Amazon jungle. The percentage of natural Guarana extract used in each bottle of Carlton G is between 0.15% and 0.20%. Compared with one standard energy drink, you will have to consume three 355ml bottles of Carlton G before you experience a similar effect. If not we will continue to lose out..

Destination Turkey. Efes could profit from a tourist boom this year but financial costs may eat into profitability. For the first quarter of 2001, Anadolu Efes reported a hefty loss in excess of US$20m as a consequence of the Turkish lira’s depreciation.

Turkey offers good sales prospects for beer in the medium term. The legislation passed in January 2000 terminating the Turkish alcohol monopoly opens up opportunities for foreign breweries to supply local wholesalers or build up their own distribution network. Before this, all foreign purchases had to be handled through the government-owned monopoly Tekel, which sold imported beer exclusively to large hotels and tourist facilities, allegedly due to warehousing problems. These customers were obliged to take at least 1,000 cartons of a brand at a time, and remit the invoice amount to Tekel in advance, including taxes and levies. In Turkey’s retail sector, only Turkish beers are available, apart from smuggled merchandise. This lower limit is to be gradually reduced to zero by 2006.97 (1..

They know how to hurt. After trouncing Boon Rawd Brewery, the maker of Singha, in the beer market, Beer Thai is launching a new attack - this time on the soda water front. With a 97% stake, Boon Rawd controls the Thai soda water market, while Beer Thai has a meagre 1.3%. It’s not about David vs. Goliath - it’s all about money. The Thai soda water market is supposedly worth US$83.6m. Boon Rawd had better cover its back this time. When Beer Thai took on Singha, Boon Rawd enjoyed a market share of 90%. Since having engaged in battle, Singha’s market share has fallen to 30%, while Beer Thai’s brand Chang beer has managed to claim 60%.

The tag line runs: "It could only be Heineken". Why? Who could possibly want a bottle of Heineken after having seen this one, beheaded, the head in the gutter and the liquid oozing out?

The UB Group, which claims to hold 40% of the Indian beer market and which is best known for its Kingfisher brand, will offer a 26% stake to any foreign partner who is willing to bring to India its international beer brand and ability to sell Kingfisher in markets outside India. Dr Vijay Mallya, the flamboyant chairman of the UB Group, said at a news conference in April that UB’s diversified investments would be separated from the brewer before the stake was sold.